The June 2018 Visa Bulletin was recently released. Most notably, the priority date for EB-5 China has advanced for the first time since January 2018.
June 2018
For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date advances 7 days to 8 June 2016, F2B preference advances 38 days to a PD of 22 June 2011, F4 category advances 21 days to 22 October 2004; EB1, EB2, and EB3 all remain current.
For India only: F2A category advances 31 days with the priority date 7 June 2016, F2B preference advances 38 days to a PD of 22 June 2011, F4 advances 14 days to a PD of 15 March 2004; EB1 remains at a PD of 1 January 2012; EB2 advanced 4 days to a PD of 26 December 2008; EB3 remains at a PD of 1 May 2008.
For China Only: EB1 remains at a PD of 1 January 2012; EB2 remains at a PD of 1 September 2014; EB3 remains at a PD of 1 June 2015; EB5 Non-Regional Center and Region Center advance 10 days to a PD of 1 August 2014.
For Vietnam Only: EB-5 Non-Regional Center and Regional advance 10 days to a PD of 1 August 2014.
Can file your immigrant applications if PD before:
F2A 22 September 2017; F2B 8 September 2011; F4 1 April 2005 for All Areas except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico and 1 December 2004 for India
EB1 is current for all countries; EB2 All Countries except India and China are current; EB3 All countries except China, India, and the Philippines are current; EB2 India remains at 1 April 2009; EB3 India remains at 1 September 2008 EB2 China remains at 1 February 2015; EB3 China remains at 1 January 2016; EB5 China (RC and non-RC) remain at 1 September 2014. Vietnam is not individually listed.
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Notes copied from the Department of State regarding Visa availability:
*NOTE: For June, F2A numbers EXEMPT from per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants from all countries with priority dates earlier than 08MAY16. F2A numbers SUBJECT to per-country limit are authorized for issuance to applicants chargeable to all countries EXCEPT MEXICO with priority dates beginning 08MAY16 and earlier than 08JUN16. All F2A numbers provided for MEXICO are exempt from the per-country limit.
D. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT (SI) TRANSLATOR CATEGORY VISA AVAILABILITY
Given the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, the Department expects to reach the FY-2018 annual limit of 50 Special Immigrant Visas in the SI category early this year. As a result, it has been necessary to maintain a June Final Action Date of April 22, 2012. It is likely that number use will require the SI category to become “unavailable” in the coming months. Once the annual limit of 50 visas is reached, further issuances in the SI category will not be possible until October 2018, under the FY-2019 annual limit. The SQ Special Immigrant Visa category for certain Iraqi and Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan is not affected and remains current.
E. VISA AVAILABILITY
MEXICO E4 and SR: There continues to be high demand in these categories which will result in the Mexico E4 per-country limit being reached during June. Therefore, readers should expect the retrogression of the July E4 and SR Final Action Dates for Mexico. This action will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under the FY-2018 annual limits.